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How To Prevent Damp in The Home: 18 Top Tips

February 27, 2024

Did you know, each year the NHS spends an estimated £1.4 billion on treating illnesses associated with living in cold or damp housing, according to the Health Inequalities research briefing?

Damp weather and poor ventilation are the perfect combination for moisture and damp to thrive, and condensation and rising and penetrative damp are the primary sources of moisture in a property.

Looking for some tips on how to prevent damp in the home? Have a read below.

How to prevent damp in the home: types of damp

Rising damp

This is where water flows vertically up from the ground through the property’s wall structure, reaching on average 1.2 metres. This usually takes place in older buildings built before the 1920s, buildings with no damp-proofing, or more modern buildings with air bricks which can become blocked up or sealed up over a period of time.

Salt deposits, discolouration, split, rotting, and soft walls or skirting boards can be an obvious indicator of rising damp, and salt tests can help you diagnose the issue.

How to prevent damp in the home? For rising damp, it’s essential that he property has a damp-proof course (DPC). This is a waterproof material inserted to a minimum of 150mm above the external ground level. In older houses, DPCs were made out of rock or rood felting. Now, buildings’ DPC are plastic or creams.

Penetrating damp

Internal leaking, plumbing or by water coming through walls or roofs is the normal cause of penetrating damp.

Puddles or dripping water, musty smells, mould or mildew and decaying brick are all signs of penetrating damp. Patches of moisture that worsen during heavy rain are another indicator.

It’s hard to prevent penetrating damp, but it’s relatively simple to treat once spotted. Check the property regularly to help prevent damp in the home. Check lofts, walls seals and pipes. You can also hire professionals to check the moisture levels around your house with a special moisture machine.

Condensation

The most common cause of damp is condensation, so if you want to know how to prevent damp in your home, it’s essential to keep an eye out for condensation and understand the causes. Condensation occurs when the air’s warm moisture comes into contact with cold surfaces, such as windows or walls. It can sometimes be an issue with the property itself, but can also be a result of the practices of the homeowners or tenants.

18 top tips on how to prevent damp in the home:

1. Open windows

2. Use extractor fans

3. Install trickle vents

4. Leave gaps between furniture and surfaces

5. Ventilate cupboards and wardrobes by opening and not overcrowding them

6. Vent tumble dryers outside

7. Close doors to rooms that produce moisture when in use, e.g. kitchens and bathrooms

8. Put lids on cooking pans

9. Dry/wipe condensation as soon as possible

10. Purchase dehumidifiers to place around the property

11. Dry clothes outside or in a ventilated room like the bathroom, and not on radiators

12. Avoid using gas or paraffin heaters

13. Don’t leave kettles boiling more than needed (consider purchasing an electric kettle)

14. Use double glazing windows

15. Don’t cover or block radiators

16. Heat up your home using heaters and radiators regularly

17. Set low radiator temperatures for longer periods of time

18. Let natural light enter

At CPL t/a Rainbow Restoration, we are experts in dealing with a wide range of moisture and damp issues. Looking for more advice on how to prevent damp in the home? Give us a call on freephone 0800 030 4360, or fill out an enquiry form today.

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